Marsilam and the making of Gus Dur's speech

Marsilam and the making of Gus Dur's speech

JAKARTA (JP): Following the barrage of criticism of President
Abdurrahman Wahid's performance at Thursday's interpellation
hearing, many have questioned the person behind the President's
controversial speech.

While few doubt the speech reflected the President's view on
the interpellation motion, many have pointed to Cabinet Secretary
Marsilam Simanjuntak as the man who put Abdurrahman's feelings
into words.

Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra and
Marzuki Darusman cited Marsilam as the man who led the team which
assisted Abdurrahman in drafting the 17-page speech, which was
read to the House by State Secretary Djohan Effendi.

Yusril, who was a professor of law at the University of
Indonesia, said he had offered to help draft the speech. However,
the President refused his offer.

"Gus Dur, with this problem of the interpellation, do you need
any assistance from me?" Yusril recounted saying to the
President. "But Gus Dur replied, 'No, thank you. I already have
Marsilam.'"

Marzuki Darusman said on Saturday, "Pak Marsilam led the team
which drafted the speech."

The contents of the speech sparked controversy even before it
was delivered, with several people close to Abdurrahman objecting
to its contents, particularly its condemnation of the
interpellation motion as unconstitutional.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was said to be among
those who objected to some of the speech's contents. Sources said
she told Marsilam and Djohan Effendi she would not read the
speech to the House because she did not agree with its contents.

Abdurrahman made a last-minute call to attempt to convince
Megawati to read the speech. "The President telephoned Ibu early
on Thursday morning, but she asked him to ask one of his
secretaries to read the speech," sources close to Megawati said.

Some people have opined that even Abdurrahman may have been
slightly uncomfortable during the four-hour session at the House.

"Even the Vice President felt like she was sitting on a hot
seat during the session," said one official.

After the session at the House, the President asked Marsilam
to accompany him to Merdeka Palace in the presidential limousine.

Abdurrahman appears to trust Marsilam's honesty and integrity.
They have been friends since childhood and were neighbors in
Matraman, Central Jakarta.

Marsilam graduated from the University of Indonesia's School
of Medicine in 1971. He was detained for 17 months without trial
in 1974 for his alleged involvement in the Malari riot.

Along with Abdurrahman, he was one of the cofounders of the
Forum Demokrasi.

"Please do not ask me any questions," Marsilam replied when
The Jakarta Post contacted him on Saturday.

Soften

Marsilam also appears to have had a main role in drafting the
President's written reply to the House's questions, which was
delivered on Friday. However, several of the President's
confidants reportedly beseeched him to soften his stance in the
written reply.

"Please ask Marsilam about the speech," Alwi replied to
journalists as his left the State Secretariat on Friday
afternoon, accompanied by Minister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen.
(ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Marzuki and State Secretary
Djohan Effendi.

According to sources, Susilo, Marzuki and Alwi persuaded the
President to soften his stance and apologize for the
controversial speech.

As of Friday afternoon, Abdurrahman was still refusing to
apologize, even hinting there were attempts by certain groups to
topple him from the presidency.

"Some people have political ambitions without being aware of
the limits," the President said at the State Palace as he opened
the Employees Cooperative conference.

According to the head of the Presidential Protocol Bureau,
Wahyu Muryadi, after lunch on Friday the President called House
Speaker Akbar Tandjung to ask him to extend the deadline to
deliver the written reply to midnight on Friday. Akbar apparently
conceded.

Another meeting was later held and Abdurrahman's aides
convinced him some form of apology was necessary to cool the
heated situation. (prb)